The intruder with a strange aura—one who could either be a divine knight or a divine adversary—was the empire’s crown prince.
Everyone with a mouth lost their words. Only Titi tilted her head in confusion, wondering if a war had suddenly broken out.
‘…Why is Assad here?’
Cayden, too, was at a loss for words. A sense of déjà vu came over him, making him wonder if he was standing in the middle of the desert where the sun had disappeared, or in the peaceful Pima.
Assad was now standing just a step away from Cayden. He looked exactly the same as when Cayden had seen him at the tailor shop before he departed for the southern region. The white uniform, one of the outfits meant for the summit, had suited Assad remarkably well.
The uniform still shone white despite being covered in sand dust. Everything before his eyes felt utterly unreal.
It even crossed his mind that perhaps he was dreaming. After all, why would Assad come to Pima on horseback? Especially dressed in such formal attire.
His letter informing the imperial palace that he would be staying in Pima for about half a month should have arrived more than three days ago. It had been delivered to the imperial mage through a magic circle drawn by Pima’s mage. If Assad had stopped by Acro, he couldn’t have missed Cayden’s letter.
Cayden, who had been standing there with a dumbfounded expression, found his arms seized by Assad, who had taken Lihet’s place. Only then did Cayden snap out of his thoughts, realizing that he wasn’t standing in a dream.
“Ah…”
Cayden involuntarily let out a groan. Assad’s uncontrolled, raging pheromones were stinging.
Assad felt bewildered by Cayden’s reaction. His brow furrowed automatically. But he showed no intention of letting go of Cayden. And he certainly wasn’t about to back away.
“Your Highness…”
Cayden sighed inwardly. Even he, who was typically insensitive to others’ pheromones, felt a dull pain as if thick needles were being jabbed into his skin. Perhaps everyone—all the alphas and omegas gathered at the training grounds—were suffering from Assad’s pheromones.
Assad was a man who despised alphas and omegas who couldn’t contain their pheromones. It was unlikely that he would deliberately release his pheromones like this. Perhaps he was having health issues. What other reason could there be for his inability to control his pheromones?
“Are you unwell?”
Cayden hastily examined Assad’s face.
Assad’s eyes were bloodshot, like someone who hadn’t slept for a long time. His complexion was poor as well.
Had something bad happened at the summit? Mental issues could also affect Assad’s physical health. Concern filled Cayden’s eyes as he looked at Assad.
“I told you. That I would find you wherever you were.”
Assad, who had been silent, finally spoke. However, he didn’t answer Cayden’s question. Instead, he uttered something completely unrelated to his health issues or the purpose of his sudden visit, something that only left Cayden puzzled.
“Your Highness. First, if possible, please contain your pheromones…”
Cayden, who had been quietly waiting for Assad’s next words, suddenly remembered Marju standing behind him. He worried what might happen if the sick omega was affected by Assad’s pheromones.
“It’s broken.”
“…”
“I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
Broken? Cayden wondered what was going on. But he chose to hide his confusion and instead tried to calm Assad first.
“…Liar.”
Assad muttered, glancing at Marju standing under the shade. Marju, half-hidden by Jahan who had somehow moved closer, showed no sign of surprise on his face. The same went for Jahan. They looked as if they had been expecting Assad’s arrival.
But Assad’s thoughts didn’t linger on them. He immediately turned his attention away from them. After all, the only person important to Assad right now was Cayden.
“But it’s okay now. Because you’re standing in front of me. My pheromones will soon be hidden too. Thinking about you the entire time I was riding here… I just couldn’t control them for a moment.”
“You’re not unwell? And what do you mean ‘the entire time you were riding’? When did you get out of the carriage… No, could it be…”
“Cayden. I…”
Assad, who had cut off Cayden’s words, moved even closer. But he couldn’t continue. A noise like a scream drowned out the end of his sentence.
The clamorous sound of glass bottles falling and shattering on the ground echoed throughout the training grounds.
The unintentional interrupter of Assad’s words was Ramon, the imperial physician of the crown prince’s consort. Ramon’s shoes were soaked with the medicines spilled from the shattered bottles. They were all supplies he had brought to tend to any potential injuries.
“Y-Your Highness! Your Excellency!”
Without even thinking to push up his fallen glasses, Ramon rushed toward Assad. He was so flustered that he failed to notice Assad’s eyes revealing his undisguised discomfort.
“How can you grip the crown prince’s consort so tightly! Emitting such terribly sharp and violent pheromones! How could you do this! You must not!”
Ramon couldn’t bring himself to remove Assad’s hands gripping Cayden, but he spoke. No, he shouted.
“What…”
“To a pregnant person, especially someone carrying your child, how could you do this!”
Ramon’s heated voice echoed throughout the entire training ground area. His words were delivered so loudly and clearly that it was hard to believe it was the same person who usually mumbled.
An incomparable silence followed. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the air in the vicinity had frozen.
Everyone, including Ramon who had shouted like it was a scream, everyone who had been standing in place just rolling their eyes—all of them, as if by agreement, closed their mouths. Even the gasp of surprise from someone was stifled by another’s hand.
“Your child?”
It was Cayden who broke the silence that seemed as if it would last forever. With an inscrutable expression, he asked Ramon. The gentle impression that always seemed to emanate from Cayden, despite his seemingly cold appearance, suddenly darkened like his face.
“…Yes. I didn’t follow you for no reason, Cayden-nim. I received His Majesty’s order to take utmost care of the pregnant crown prince’s consort.”
Ramon spoke while watching Cayden, who had turned as pale as someone with an illness. He felt sorry for having lied to Cayden, who had always followed his instructions without complaint, even though it had been unavoidable.
“So it wasn’t a problem with your pheromones… but that you became with child. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“His Imperial Majesty commanded that the secret be kept. For about half a month.”
Ramon confessed, still worriedly looking at Cayden’s bloodless face, while side-eyeing Assad who remained silent with a set jaw.
“Mother has been playing tricks.”
At Assad’s mutter, Ramon could neither affirm nor deny, and could only feel embarrassed. Along with his surprise at learning that the crown prince had also been unaware of Cayden’s pregnancy.
“Is there any problem with the crown prince consort’s health?”
“No.”
“And the child… No, never mind. If Cayden is healthy, the child must be healthy too.”
Assad, who had briefly turned his gaze to Ramon, blinked his eyes as if slightly dazed. But soon, he turned his gaze straight back to Cayden, who was keeping his head down.
The distance between the two grew even closer. By now, Assad’s pheromones were completely contained.
“Cayden.”
Assad’s lips curved gently. He smiled. It was such a beautiful smile that one might think all the flowers in the world combined couldn’t compare to it.
But for some reason, to Ramon’s eyes, the crown prince’s smile felt damp and creepy. The nape of his neck felt chilled, as if he had accidentally stepped into a sand snake’s den.
Ramon took a step back. He had instinctively realized it was time for him to withdraw.
“Your Highness…”
Cayden called to Assad. He wasn’t responding to Assad calling his name. He had called out because he had something to say.
Sensing that subtle difference, Assad’s face turned serious. Cayden’s complexion was so poor that Assad’s hands unconsciously loosened their grip.
Child. From the moment Ramon had uttered that word, Cayden felt as if everything had gone dark before his eyes. He couldn’t breathe properly, as if he were submerged in water.
“I told you… that if you held onto me because of trivial attachment, you would eventually regret it. I told you that I would hold you back.”
“…”
“How… I don’t know what to do. I can’t think of anything to do. What… what should I do?”
Cayden muttered, unable to face Assad directly. He was caught in a confusion too great to bear alone.
“Cayden.”
“I… cannot leave the child behind.”
Cayden finally raised his head and met Assad’s eyes.
“Because it will be an unwelcome child. I know all too well how sad it is… to not be loved, to just grow physically while being surrounded by indifference, no, while being hated.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
